Friday, 18 August 2023, the Faculty of Biology attended a discussion by the National University Singapore. The discussion was also attended by colleagues from Directorate of Research, Faculty of Geography, Faculty of Forestry, and Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada with a total of 11 participants in the discussion. From the Faculty of Biology attended by Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc, and Nur Indah Septriani, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. from the Office of International Affairs of the Faculty of Biology. Meanwhile from the National University Singapore attended by Prof. Lian Pin Koh from the Faculty of Science.
Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Biology had the opportunity to present faculty profiles, study programs, research focus and interests, also potential collaborations such as student exchanges, double degrees, and so on. Representatives from each faculty also had the opportunity to present the profiles of each faculty to find common ground that could be collaborated on.
Furthermore, Prof. Lian Pin Koh from the Faculty of Science, National University Singapore (NUS) appreciated the initiation of the collaboration between the UGM faculties and NUS. Prof. Koh is the Director of the Center for Nature-based Climate Solutions NUS, a center for studies focused on climate policy, strategy and action in Singapore and Asia-Pacific Region. He is also the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Chair Professor of Conservation NUS, Vice Dean of Research Faculty of Science, and Director of NUS’ Tropical Marine Science Institute. Prof. Koh explained his faculty profile at NUS which consists of 7 Departments including Biological Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Math, Statistics, and Physics. Prof. Koh himself is an expert in the field of ecology and environment. He conveyed the potential for collaboration that can be carried out within the scope of research related to climate change which is a special focus at NUS, urban farming, and aquaculture.
Subsequent discussions focused on the potential for collaboration that could be explored in each faculty unit at UGM. Dr. Eko from the Faculty of Biology delivered an initiation for student exchange that could collaborate with the undergraduate training program held at NUS. For forestry and mangrove research, NUS has collaborated with many parties from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines and does not rule out opportunities for collaboration with faculties at UGM. Meanwhile for marine biology research, Prof. Koh expressed his appreciation for the potential for collaboration with Dr. Eko, mainly related to microalgae research. Besides that, Dr. Eko and other delegations from the Faculty of Biology plan to visit Singapore in October, so it will be a great opportunity to focus on the collaboration between the two parties. From the Faculty of Geography itself also conveyed the potential for research collaboration with expert lecturers including on the topic of carbon sequestration and marine science.
The discussion is a great bridge to increase the collaborative network of Gadjah Mada University, especially the Faculty of Biology with the National University Singapore. The collaboration is expected to produce outputs such as research results that can be of benefit to the wider community. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology UGM in supporting sustainable development and in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), namely quality education (SDGs 4) and partnership for the goals (SDGs 17).